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Nh

on one of my plants, the pumpkin is set about eight to ten feet out on the main vine. it is the only fruit on the plant. there are three secondaries behind the pumpkin. i have cut them at about eight feet out.
i cut the main vine about fifteen feet past the pumpkin.
my question is whether or not this 15 ft past my pumpkin is helping or hurting the rate of growth.
so far my pumpkin is 60 inches in circ
i have also cut alot of the little vines that grab onto things, since i buried the vines good enough to be able to hold itself upright.
is cutting those grabbers off good or bad.
3rd question is whether or not leaves cont. to grow in size after the vine they are on has been cut.
4th question is whether or not it is more effective to fertalize right at the pumpkin
last question is considering the time of year and that my pumpkin is 60 inches in circ, does anyone have an idea on what one might expect this pumpkin to weigh when all is said and done?
any feed back would be great. thankyou

8/18/2004 12:30:32 AM

Knopp, Germany

1. i believe the addtional leaves and roots past the fruit will help.
2. i do not think cutting off the grabbers (tendrils) has any effect on pumpkin growth
3. yes the leaves will continue to grow. that all depends on how much room is between them and their neighbor leaves
4. i believe that you should fertilize the entire patch. the roots on these monsters are amazing.
5. impossible to answer. if you have a warm end of august and september you could still put on a few hundred pounds.

good luck,
owen

8/18/2004 12:45:59 AM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

I have a similiar situation to you, fruit at 8' and about 15' of vine after it. I cut the main a week ago, and since I did, the leaves doubled in size near the end of the vine where I cut it off.

8/18/2004 2:59:45 AM

Nh

yep. the leaves beyond the fruit have become the best on the plant

8/18/2004 7:21:24 AM

Ohio

Id leave it on till your pumpkin stops growing or slowing way down. I cut about 11 feet of main vine and secondaries after the pumpkin when mine slowed almost to a complete stop. After i did it, it did pick back up ALOT. Cant say for sure if it was because of the cold weather or maybe it was because all the energy that kept the leaves, vines and secondaries healthy went all to the pumpkin, I had nothing to lose by cutting off everything past my pumpkin, it was only growing at a snails pace for about 3 days. But untill Some one can convenience me diffrent, I myself would leave atleast 10 feet of main past my pumpkin, I kinda beleive there is some back feeding Myself.

8/19/2004 8:12:26 PM

California Bay Area

i have been wondering this for some time. somebody here must know the answer to this. does the growth behind the pumpkin feed the pumpkin???? if it doesn't i was thinking people should set the pumpkin as far out as possible because leaf growth on the start of the plant dies out sooner and is less productive.

8/22/2004 12:49:00 AM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

Yo mama: true. Most people try to set them at least 10' to 15' out. It's a trade off. If you wait to set one farther out, you lose growing days, but I'd also think that a fruit farther out would perform better, it's just a matter of how long you can afford to wait?

8/22/2004 1:04:10 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Yomama - Take note that the current WR 1385 Daletas was set @ 23'.

Conpare that to the 1458.0 Whittier DMG that was set @ 11.5'.

8/22/2004 3:58:47 AM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

My 996 Bobier is set at 17 feet and is 366 OTT and the main is now 60 feet long with the secondarys cut back two feet long for main support and buryed.

8/22/2004 11:05:28 AM

California Bay Area

Thanks.my is 300 OTT and is set about 10 feet out. but the begining of the [plant is getting old. the leaves are tired and growth(fruit) is slowing down. this is my first year so many things will change next year. i love doing this!!

8/22/2004 11:37:37 PM